under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.16 years
male: 71.6 years
female: 74.83 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely
understood)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government
Gaza Strip
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Economy
Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:
High population density, limited land access, and strict internal
and external security controls have kept economic conditions in the
Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian
Authority (PA)- even more degraded than in the West Bank. The
beginning of the second intifada in September 2000 sparked an
economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure policies;
these policies, which were imposed to address security concerns in
Israel, disrupted labor and trade access to and from the Gaza Strip.
In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures
in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption
of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. The
Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005 offered
some medium-term opportunities for economic growth, but continued
Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which became more restrictive
after Hamas violently took over the territory in June 2007, have
resulted in widespread private sector layoffs and shortages of most
goods.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.034 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.328 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-8% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 13%
services: 79% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
Labor force:
267,000 (2006)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 18%
services: 70% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
34.8% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.149 billion
expenditures: $2.31 billion
note: includes West Bank (2006)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (includes West Bank) (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.73% (31 December 2006)
Stock of money:
$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.455 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap,
olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis had
established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial
center, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of Gaza
Strip settlements
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (includes West Bank) (2005)
Electricity - production:
140,000 kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
230,000 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
90,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2005)
Exports:
$301 million f.o.b.; (includes West Bank) (2005)
Exports - commodities:
citrus, flowers, textiles
Exports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)
Imports:
$2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes West Bank) (2005)
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.4 billion; (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA
Currency (code):
new Israeli shekel (ILS)
Currency code:
ILS
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565
(2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)
Communications
Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use:
350,400 (includes West Bank) (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.026 million (includes West Bank) (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL
company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 0 (2008)
Radios:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2008)
Televisions:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)
Internet country code:
.ps; note - same as West Bank
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (1999)
Internet users:
355,500 (includes West Bank) (2007)
Transportation
Gaza Strip
Airports:
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Roadways:
note: see entry for West Bank
Ports and terminals:
Gaza
Military
Gaza Strip
Military branches:
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is
not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however,
public security forces (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 337,670 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 291,467 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 19,275
female: 18,309 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues
Gaza Strip
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status
subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent
status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed
settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)) (2007)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Georgia
Introduction
Georgia
Background:
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of
Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in
the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion
in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed
by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by
the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian
empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed
into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three
years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly
incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate
national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off
widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard
SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004
swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National
Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has
been made in the years since independence, but this progress has
been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian military action in
South Ossetia in early August 2008 led to a Russian military
response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large
portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from
most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia
unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's
nations and international organizations.
Geography
Georgia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km
Coastline:
310 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and
Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida
Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in
the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of
Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor
coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important
tea and citrus growth
Land use:
arable land: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,690 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
63.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)
per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari
River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil
pollution from toxic chemicals
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much
of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
People
Georgia
Population:
4,630,841 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 402,961/female 352,735)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,496,802/female 1,610,725)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 307,795/female 459,823) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.3 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.325% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
10.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.51 years
male: 73.21 years
female: 80.26 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:
Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5%
(2002 census)
Religions:
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%,
Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages:
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2006)
Government
Georgia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: T'bilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 47 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i), and 2
autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom
respublika)
regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti,
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti,
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli
city: Tbilisi
autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri
Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika
(Bat'umi)
note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are
shown in parentheses
Independence:
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of
independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of
independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 24 August 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January
2004); the president is both the chief of state and head of
government for the power ministries: state security (includes
interior) and defense
head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January
2004); Prime Minister Grigol MGALOBLISHVILI (since 1 November 2008);
the president is both the chief of state and head of government for
the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and
defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of
government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008
(next to be held January 2013)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent
of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%,
Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council
or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (235 seats; 150 members elected by proportional
representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies, and 10 represent
displaced persons from Abkhazia; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 May 2008 (next to be held in spring 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - National
Movement-Democratic Front 59.2%, National Council-New Rights 17.7%,
other parties 23.1%; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic
Front 120, National Council-New Rights 16
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the
president's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation);
Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts
Political parties and leaders:
Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front
[Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
[Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome ZOURABICHVILI];
Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia
(Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva
NATELASHVILI]; National Council-New Rights (a bloc uniting a
nine-party alliance with New Rights); National Democratic Party or
NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement-Democratic Front [Mikheil
SAAKASHVILI] (bloc composed of National Movement and
Burjanadze-Democrats); National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New
Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI];
Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki
ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI
and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in
exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE
chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10
Flag description:
white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all
four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red
bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to
the 14th century
Economy
Georgia
Economy - overview:
Georgia's economy has sustained robust GDP growth of close to 10% in
2006 and 12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign investment
and robust government spending. However, a widening trade deficit
and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Areas of
recent improvement include increasing foreign direct investment as
well as growth in the construction, banking services and mining
sectors. Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation
of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and
hazelnuts; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,
metals, machinery, aircraft and chemicals. The country imports
nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It
has sizeable hydropower capacity, a growing component of its energy
supplies. Despite the severe damage the economy suffered due to
civil strife in the 1990s, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and
World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 2000,
achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia's
GDP growth neared 10% in 2006 and 2007 despite restrictions on
commerce with Russia. Areas of recent improvement include increased
foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction,
banking services, and mining sectors. In addition, the reinvigorated
privatization process has met with success. However, a widening
trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the
economy. Georgia has suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax
revenues; however, the new government is making progress and has
reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax
enforcement, and cracked down on corruption. Government revenues
have increased nearly four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in
customs and financial (tax) enforcement, smuggling is a declining
problem. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages of the
past by renovating hydropower plants and by bringing newly available
natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan. It also has an increased
ability to pay for more expensive gas imports from Russia. The
country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on a determined
effort to reduce regulation, taxes and corruption in order to
attract foreign investment. The construction on the
Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas
pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad are part of a strategy
to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and
Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas, oil and other
goods.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.29 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
12% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 28.7%
services: 58.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.02 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.6% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.4 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
29.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.68 billion
expenditures: $3.08 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
20.41% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.154 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.379 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.374 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining
(manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
13.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.116 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
6.694 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
635 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
532 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.7%
hydro: 80.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
979.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
12,980 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
2,492 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
15,820 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
35 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
10 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.49 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$2.044 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.104 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
Exports - partners:
Turkey 13%, US 11.2%, Azerbaijan 6.3%, UK 5.4%, Bulgaria 5.1%,
Ukraine 5%, Armenia 4.8%, Turkmenistan 4.5%, Canada 4.2% (2007)
Imports:
$4.977 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods,
pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
Turkey 14%, Russia 12.3%, Ukraine 8.5%, Azerbaijan 7.3%, Germany
6.8%, US 5%, Bulgaria 4.6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $309.8 million (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.361 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.5 billion (2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.39 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
lari (GEL)
Currency code:
GEL
Exchange rates:
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005),
1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003)
Communications
Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:
544,000 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.4 million (2007)
Telephone system: